Last month we talked in-depthly about emergency preparedness[5]. As they say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The inconvenience now of being proactive about things can save lots of headaches, pain, and maybe even worse, later on.

Here are 8 ways I’ve been thinking about to be more proactive, more prepared:

1. Store ICE contact numbers in your phone.

What would happen to you if you were hurt while away from work, home, or anyone you knew? “In case of emergency” phone numbers can be programmed into your cell phone so that if something were to happen to you, emergency personnel would know who to contact. The Happy Housewife has the details as well as info on an app[6] for your smart phone to help you be better prepared.

2. Fill an emergency supply closet.

I’ve slowly been building my stockpile of water, but this emergency supply closet[7] just blew me out of the water. Brilliant. We even have some storage cupboards in our garage that I could repurpose this way.

3. Get a full medical physical.

Yes, really. I know it’s a total pain. But, most of us moms don’t do this very often. And all too often, there can be little things that get overlooked. But, regular check-ups can be helpful in diagnosing issues early enough to be treated successfully. Make sure to check your skin and do monthly breast exams[8] as well.

4. Inventory your home.

Last Spring my friend Lynn[9]‘s home was hit by a tornado. Thankfully, they were all safe, but there was a fair degree of damage to the house and property. Lynn went through the process of recreating lists of the items that were damaged for the insurance claims adjuster.

While I may not live in tornado country anymore, we aren’t immune to fire or theft. Having a list of the big ticket items, their purchase prices, and date of purchase would be helpful later during what would surely be a stressful time.

Now, you might not think you have anything valuable. That’s what I thought, too. But, then I just thought about all my kitchen appliances! I would hate to have to replace my food processor, stand mixer, bread machine, and so on. While I can certainly live without them, I’d honestly rather not have to.

Lauren shared some great tips last month for how to pack emergency evacuation bags for your kids. Check out the post[10] and then think about the supplies you can gather in one place to be better prepared.

6. Stock your car with a small on-the-go emergency kit.

We never know when an emergency situation will hit. So, while you’re packing go bags, make an extra one for the car filled with general supplies, like water, non-perishable food, and first aid kit.

7. Think about life insurance and then do something about it.

We think about it, but we’ve yet to do anything about it. Life insurance is really not that expensive, and it can be a good cushion for your family to land on if the worst happens.

8. Store valuables in a fireproof safe.

While most of us aren’t worried about protecting the Hope diamond, we are concerned about more important things: birth certificates, family photos, contracts, and property documents. A good way to protect these items is to store them in a fireproof safe.[11]

I can’t help you with numbers 1 through 7, but this weekend, I’ve got #8 covered!

Sentry Safe[12] is offering this Pink Fireproof Chest[13] for giveaway! Three Life as MOM readers will each win a chest. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Sentry[12] is also donating $1 from the sale of each safe to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

I love this safe because it’s small, not too heavy, and highly portable. Sure, you want it to survive the fire, but if you have time and can take it with you, so much the better. You already know some of my thoughts on breast cancer.[8]

It’s like TWO proactive things all in one sweet, pink bundle. Cool!

To Enter:

Leave a comment, telling us one way that you’re being proactive for the health and safety of your family.

This giveaway will be open until Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 8 pm PST. Winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize. This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winners: miamichickens@, tinnasieriverphoenix@, alissa.fisher@

Disclosure: I received review product as well as compensation for my time spent writing.